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The Bloody Chorus
Two empires...one in decline, the other ascendant and hungry for conquest...
Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs.
Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a magical band of avenging misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.
Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs.
Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a magical band of avenging misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.
455 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2023
38 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
John Marco
36 books417 followersHello. Thanks for visiting my author page here on Goodreads. In case you don't know me, I'm John Marco and I'm a fantasy writer. My work includes the Tyrants and Kings trilogy and the books of the Bronze Knight Lukien.
My latest book, THE BLOODY CHORUS is now available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHJ768
My latest book, THE BLOODY CHORUS is now available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHJ768
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 9, 2023
Original review posted on my blog Out of This World SFF:
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
John Marco is an author who holds a pretty special place for me. His debut series, Tyrants and Kings, is among my very favorite of all-time. It's a masterful blend of military and epic fantasy that came at a pivotal time and really transformed me from just a casual fantasy reader to a die hard obsessed one (Yes, you are to blame John). Marco's follow-up trilogy, The Bronze Knight was also fantastic, followed by the tie-in standalone The Forever Knight. And then for the better part of a decade we didn't get another John Marco book (for reasons that we don't need to get into). Nevertheless, there wasn't a year that went by that I didn't google his name to see if there might be a new book in the works or to get any sniff of info/rumor I could. And then just a few months ago it happened. The fabulous news that John Marco was back! Not only that, he was releasing a new novel in February! I quickly jumped at the chance to request an advance copy which the author was kind enough to provide for me. And with that, I gleefully dove in to see if the magic was still there.
THE BLOODY CHORUS fires right out of the gate with an unspeakable act of treachery, and doesn't let up on the throttle for one second until the breathtaking conclusion. The Cryori have lived in a holding pattern of prosperity and peace for quite some time under their old ruler Sha'an. But the kingdom is thrown into flux when the aging Tain's life is taken by an assassin. As his son Haru transitions into taking the reins as the new Tain, a fanatical zealot from J'hora sees an opportunity to consolidate all of the surrounding neighbors into one singular alliance.
Teetering on the edge of madness, Reius feverishly scrawls down messages in his secluded tower that he believes are directives from his god Taan. Those who do not wish to submit to the will of Taan are to be convinced through conquest or forced conversion. And if necessary, a torturous death. Eventually Reius turns his eyes squarely across the sea toward Haru's home of Nesenor, the only remaining holdout. But Haru has plans of his own as he has strong suspicions that the madman across the water is directly responsible for his father's murder. It is becoming increasingly clear that although there are some desperately calling for peace, there WILL BE BLOOD.
I'm happy to report that not only is the magic still there when it comes to John Marco's storytelling skills, it has been taken to extraordinary levels in THE BLOODY CHORUS. I made the comment on Twitter that this book has so much going on in it that it felt like I read an entire series in this just the first book. That's not just lip service, there are so many storylines, so much misdirection, such unpredictability of character motivations and alliances. If you are looking for a read that constantly keeps you engaged and on your toes, you should read this book immediately because I never knew what to expect or what road Marco was taking me down at any given moment. To my absolute delight.
When I say unpredictability of character motivations and alliances, it really is one of the many reasons why I love John Marco's writing. He has this innate ability to make even the worst villain sort of redeemable, to the point where there's a part of you that kind of roots for them against your own better judgement. Conversely he also has a knack for making his "heroes" flawed and shows them in a brutally honest way, sometimes even highlighting the fact that they may not be as honorable and pure as they might seem initially. I guess you could call it morally gray, but that feels like such a cliche. I just think that Marco does a splendid job of showing through words and actions how there is both good and bad in everyone.
THE BLOODY CHORUS is a book that I wish I could put in every fantasy lover's hands and say "trust me, just read this." It's a book that constantly made me stop and go "Whoa, holy f--- I can't believe that just happened." Marco's worldbuilding is consistently of the highest quality and he has populated this brilliant world with some of the most horrifying and unsettling creatures, bickering and vindictive living gods, and vile feral beasts imaginable. I don't even have the words to explain the magnificent trip this book took me on and if this opening salvo is any indication, this might just end up being my favorite John Marco series when all is said and done. And that's really saying something.
The bottom line is THE BLOODY CHORUS is bloody perfection and a triumphant return for one of the all-time great fantasy writers. Ten years was more than worth the wait and I truly hope that this book gets the overwhelming praise and accolades it so rightly deserves.
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
John Marco is an author who holds a pretty special place for me. His debut series, Tyrants and Kings, is among my very favorite of all-time. It's a masterful blend of military and epic fantasy that came at a pivotal time and really transformed me from just a casual fantasy reader to a die hard obsessed one (Yes, you are to blame John). Marco's follow-up trilogy, The Bronze Knight was also fantastic, followed by the tie-in standalone The Forever Knight. And then for the better part of a decade we didn't get another John Marco book (for reasons that we don't need to get into). Nevertheless, there wasn't a year that went by that I didn't google his name to see if there might be a new book in the works or to get any sniff of info/rumor I could. And then just a few months ago it happened. The fabulous news that John Marco was back! Not only that, he was releasing a new novel in February! I quickly jumped at the chance to request an advance copy which the author was kind enough to provide for me. And with that, I gleefully dove in to see if the magic was still there.
THE BLOODY CHORUS fires right out of the gate with an unspeakable act of treachery, and doesn't let up on the throttle for one second until the breathtaking conclusion. The Cryori have lived in a holding pattern of prosperity and peace for quite some time under their old ruler Sha'an. But the kingdom is thrown into flux when the aging Tain's life is taken by an assassin. As his son Haru transitions into taking the reins as the new Tain, a fanatical zealot from J'hora sees an opportunity to consolidate all of the surrounding neighbors into one singular alliance.
Teetering on the edge of madness, Reius feverishly scrawls down messages in his secluded tower that he believes are directives from his god Taan. Those who do not wish to submit to the will of Taan are to be convinced through conquest or forced conversion. And if necessary, a torturous death. Eventually Reius turns his eyes squarely across the sea toward Haru's home of Nesenor, the only remaining holdout. But Haru has plans of his own as he has strong suspicions that the madman across the water is directly responsible for his father's murder. It is becoming increasingly clear that although there are some desperately calling for peace, there WILL BE BLOOD.
I'm happy to report that not only is the magic still there when it comes to John Marco's storytelling skills, it has been taken to extraordinary levels in THE BLOODY CHORUS. I made the comment on Twitter that this book has so much going on in it that it felt like I read an entire series in this just the first book. That's not just lip service, there are so many storylines, so much misdirection, such unpredictability of character motivations and alliances. If you are looking for a read that constantly keeps you engaged and on your toes, you should read this book immediately because I never knew what to expect or what road Marco was taking me down at any given moment. To my absolute delight.
When I say unpredictability of character motivations and alliances, it really is one of the many reasons why I love John Marco's writing. He has this innate ability to make even the worst villain sort of redeemable, to the point where there's a part of you that kind of roots for them against your own better judgement. Conversely he also has a knack for making his "heroes" flawed and shows them in a brutally honest way, sometimes even highlighting the fact that they may not be as honorable and pure as they might seem initially. I guess you could call it morally gray, but that feels like such a cliche. I just think that Marco does a splendid job of showing through words and actions how there is both good and bad in everyone.
THE BLOODY CHORUS is a book that I wish I could put in every fantasy lover's hands and say "trust me, just read this." It's a book that constantly made me stop and go "Whoa, holy f--- I can't believe that just happened." Marco's worldbuilding is consistently of the highest quality and he has populated this brilliant world with some of the most horrifying and unsettling creatures, bickering and vindictive living gods, and vile feral beasts imaginable. I don't even have the words to explain the magnificent trip this book took me on and if this opening salvo is any indication, this might just end up being my favorite John Marco series when all is said and done. And that's really saying something.
The bottom line is THE BLOODY CHORUS is bloody perfection and a triumphant return for one of the all-time great fantasy writers. Ten years was more than worth the wait and I truly hope that this book gets the overwhelming praise and accolades it so rightly deserves.
February 9, 2023
* You can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/JFfoh6-BT8o *
4.5 stars
I first read John Marco over twenty years ago with the Jackal of Nar, and I really enjoyed the blend of military and magic in that Tyrants and Kings series. So when I was offered a review copy of his new book, I was more than happy to give it a try.
The story centres around Haru, who at 16 years of age, has been thrust into power as the Tain of the island nation of Nesenor after the assassination of his father. The Bloody Chorus of the title are the four gods-kissed protectors of the Tain.
Believing the fanatical Reius, leader of an alliance of the nations of continental J’hora, to be behind the assassination, Haru and his Chorus seek justice and retribution.
At first, it might feel as though you’ve been thrown into the deep end in terms of the story and worldbuilding, but actually, I thought the book did a pretty good job of keeping me from going under.
Within the first couple of chapters, we learn a bit about the politics, religion, races, and creatures of this world, without it ever feeling like it was too much. I really like the worldbuilding on show here, and also the way it was gradually unveiled to us.
One of the key subtleties is that the main characters, Haru and his companions, are not human. They are Cryori—a race of humanoids with azure faces and sapphire eyes—and it can be easy to forget this until they refer to the people of J’hora as “humans”, although the reaction of the J’horans to seeing the Cryori paints a picture in itself.
The Cryori are among the last peoples to hold on to their old gods. While the nations of the J’horan Alliance pledge themselves to a faceless god who relays his word through Reius, the Cryori have living gods, who we do get to spend some time with.
These are great and powerful beings, and I like that they’re not just there to give direction to our characters, they are characters in their own right, fully involving themselves in what’s going on and becoming integral to the resolution of the story.
It was one of the gods who created the great beast ships that you can see on the book cover, and another, the mother of the gods, grants control of the mighty dragon-whales. Both of these are really interesting elements that elevate both the overall worldbuilding and the story itself.
In terms of the story, I had a really good time with it. I love a tale with unseen betrayal and while one of them I did suspect early on, there were still a few surprises to be had. The storytelling itself is really concise, everything that happens has meaning, and the plot moves forward at a great pace without ever feeling rushed.
The battles are thrilling, and I like that it’s not just a big clash of two opposing armies. Early on, you get a showing of the power of the Chorus, with a life-or-death battle for one member clearly demonstrating the link they have to their patron god. As the story moves on, there are little skirmishes, running battles, a great sea-battle, and more, and despite them all being very different in scope, the same intensity is there for each one of them.
Taking a quick look at the negatives, I honestly don’t think there’s too much to say. There were a couple of little conveniences of plot, there were a couple of beings that I didn’t like too much—although to be fair, they did work well for the story—there were a couple of questions left unanswered, particularly regarding the scope of the gods’ powers, but overall, everything worked well.
I liked the plot, the characters, and the world, and if you’re doing well in those three areas, you’ve got the basis of a really good book, and for me, I think that’s exactly what we got here.
4.5 stars
I first read John Marco over twenty years ago with the Jackal of Nar, and I really enjoyed the blend of military and magic in that Tyrants and Kings series. So when I was offered a review copy of his new book, I was more than happy to give it a try.
The story centres around Haru, who at 16 years of age, has been thrust into power as the Tain of the island nation of Nesenor after the assassination of his father. The Bloody Chorus of the title are the four gods-kissed protectors of the Tain.
Believing the fanatical Reius, leader of an alliance of the nations of continental J’hora, to be behind the assassination, Haru and his Chorus seek justice and retribution.
At first, it might feel as though you’ve been thrown into the deep end in terms of the story and worldbuilding, but actually, I thought the book did a pretty good job of keeping me from going under.
Within the first couple of chapters, we learn a bit about the politics, religion, races, and creatures of this world, without it ever feeling like it was too much. I really like the worldbuilding on show here, and also the way it was gradually unveiled to us.
One of the key subtleties is that the main characters, Haru and his companions, are not human. They are Cryori—a race of humanoids with azure faces and sapphire eyes—and it can be easy to forget this until they refer to the people of J’hora as “humans”, although the reaction of the J’horans to seeing the Cryori paints a picture in itself.
The Cryori are among the last peoples to hold on to their old gods. While the nations of the J’horan Alliance pledge themselves to a faceless god who relays his word through Reius, the Cryori have living gods, who we do get to spend some time with.
These are great and powerful beings, and I like that they’re not just there to give direction to our characters, they are characters in their own right, fully involving themselves in what’s going on and becoming integral to the resolution of the story.
It was one of the gods who created the great beast ships that you can see on the book cover, and another, the mother of the gods, grants control of the mighty dragon-whales. Both of these are really interesting elements that elevate both the overall worldbuilding and the story itself.
In terms of the story, I had a really good time with it. I love a tale with unseen betrayal and while one of them I did suspect early on, there were still a few surprises to be had. The storytelling itself is really concise, everything that happens has meaning, and the plot moves forward at a great pace without ever feeling rushed.
The battles are thrilling, and I like that it’s not just a big clash of two opposing armies. Early on, you get a showing of the power of the Chorus, with a life-or-death battle for one member clearly demonstrating the link they have to their patron god. As the story moves on, there are little skirmishes, running battles, a great sea-battle, and more, and despite them all being very different in scope, the same intensity is there for each one of them.
Taking a quick look at the negatives, I honestly don’t think there’s too much to say. There were a couple of little conveniences of plot, there were a couple of beings that I didn’t like too much—although to be fair, they did work well for the story—there were a couple of questions left unanswered, particularly regarding the scope of the gods’ powers, but overall, everything worked well.
I liked the plot, the characters, and the world, and if you’re doing well in those three areas, you’ve got the basis of a really good book, and for me, I think that’s exactly what we got here.
July 21, 2025
Absolutely loved this one from one of my favorite authors. It's unique in so many ways for a fantasy book and I loved the creatures and gods and very real choices that were made in this book. Can't recommend this enough!
February 8, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-bloo...
Interview with John Marco: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Bloody Chorus is the novel that marks the return of one of the old names in fantasy, John Marco, and his first self-published work. A title that has been in process for a long period of time, but honestly, I can say that the result is an excellent novel.
This novel starts with the mysterious assassination of Haru's father, marking the ascend of Haru to the position of Tain of the Criory, a people that once was feared alongside the world; but the death of Sha'an is also accompanied by the rise of a new leader on J'hora, looking into forging an alliance will all the surrounding neighbours. This new leader, Reius, affirms to be talking as the voice and will of Taan. Those who don't accept the new god are forced to convert, becoming Haru's land the last remaining not under this new banner; and weirdly, what Reius offer to Haru is a journey to J'hora, to know him and trying to convince him about joining the alliance, a peace mission that might end being a bloodbath.
Haru will be accompanied on this journey by his Chorus, people that have been chosen by the different gods of the islands and that have promised to protect the Tain. The group of characters that Marco proposes for this adventure is quite particular, being all of them different and eccentric in their own way, sometimes derivated from how these deities have treated them.
Our main character, Haru, is also one of the better-developed characters; we get to see how he assumes a position that he's not prepared for, and immediately gets forced into a diplomatic mission with a double purpose (in part also manipulated by the Archdisciple). In the end, he just wants to become the best possible Tain for his people, including taking care of his mates; and this journey will also be a self-discovering one.
Reius is, in part, similar to Haru in some details. His offer of peace is sincere, and honestly, I feel that he's just a man who has to fill some shoes that are too big for him, becoming sometimes a puppet in the hands of Marlo, his torture.
From the rest of the cast, I would like to talk a little about the Chorus, and how they also are trying to overcome the hit of Sa'an's death, as they were supposed to be protecting him. They also start discovering during this journey the true nature of their gods, something that will change them in strange ways.
Worldbuilding is another aspect I loved in this novel. Marco has created an interesting world, focusing mostly on two different locations, the Cryori Isles and J'hora, which are really different one from the other. Cryori Isles are a savage place, being the Cryori warriors that adore monstrous deities, similar to kaiju; fighting and naval war are in their blood.J'hora is closer to the classical fantasy canons, a population under the mandate of a God-chosen person, being the center of the human alliance. There are several small details that I would like to see more explore, such as the past of Cryori deities, but I feel that could be the theme of a new book.
Pacing and plot are also excellent. Despite being a self-contained book, you can feel that in those few pages, there are covered enough to be a trilogy; and it is really surprising how the story evolves at some points, in totally unexpected ways.
The Bloody Chorus is an excellent novel, that feels really polished, and it makes me hope to more books in this universe. I totally recommend it, especially to people who look for a classical fantasy novel with different twists; and if you are curious about different settings, this novel might be also your jam.
Interview with John Marco: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Bloody Chorus is the novel that marks the return of one of the old names in fantasy, John Marco, and his first self-published work. A title that has been in process for a long period of time, but honestly, I can say that the result is an excellent novel.
This novel starts with the mysterious assassination of Haru's father, marking the ascend of Haru to the position of Tain of the Criory, a people that once was feared alongside the world; but the death of Sha'an is also accompanied by the rise of a new leader on J'hora, looking into forging an alliance will all the surrounding neighbours. This new leader, Reius, affirms to be talking as the voice and will of Taan. Those who don't accept the new god are forced to convert, becoming Haru's land the last remaining not under this new banner; and weirdly, what Reius offer to Haru is a journey to J'hora, to know him and trying to convince him about joining the alliance, a peace mission that might end being a bloodbath.
Haru will be accompanied on this journey by his Chorus, people that have been chosen by the different gods of the islands and that have promised to protect the Tain. The group of characters that Marco proposes for this adventure is quite particular, being all of them different and eccentric in their own way, sometimes derivated from how these deities have treated them.
Our main character, Haru, is also one of the better-developed characters; we get to see how he assumes a position that he's not prepared for, and immediately gets forced into a diplomatic mission with a double purpose (in part also manipulated by the Archdisciple). In the end, he just wants to become the best possible Tain for his people, including taking care of his mates; and this journey will also be a self-discovering one.
Reius is, in part, similar to Haru in some details. His offer of peace is sincere, and honestly, I feel that he's just a man who has to fill some shoes that are too big for him, becoming sometimes a puppet in the hands of Marlo, his torture.
From the rest of the cast, I would like to talk a little about the Chorus, and how they also are trying to overcome the hit of Sa'an's death, as they were supposed to be protecting him. They also start discovering during this journey the true nature of their gods, something that will change them in strange ways.
Worldbuilding is another aspect I loved in this novel. Marco has created an interesting world, focusing mostly on two different locations, the Cryori Isles and J'hora, which are really different one from the other. Cryori Isles are a savage place, being the Cryori warriors that adore monstrous deities, similar to kaiju; fighting and naval war are in their blood.J'hora is closer to the classical fantasy canons, a population under the mandate of a God-chosen person, being the center of the human alliance. There are several small details that I would like to see more explore, such as the past of Cryori deities, but I feel that could be the theme of a new book.
Pacing and plot are also excellent. Despite being a self-contained book, you can feel that in those few pages, there are covered enough to be a trilogy; and it is really surprising how the story evolves at some points, in totally unexpected ways.
The Bloody Chorus is an excellent novel, that feels really polished, and it makes me hope to more books in this universe. I totally recommend it, especially to people who look for a classical fantasy novel with different twists; and if you are curious about different settings, this novel might be also your jam.
August 10, 2023
Absolutely awesome!
In a dangerous revenge plot, an elite group travels into hostile territory . It is the unexpected that awaits. For all is not as it seems.
Fantastically written epic of gods, cultures,allegiances & leaders of nations. Brutal action. Lives up to hype. Amazing. 🏆
In a dangerous revenge plot, an elite group travels into hostile territory . It is the unexpected that awaits. For all is not as it seems.
Fantastically written epic of gods, cultures,allegiances & leaders of nations. Brutal action. Lives up to hype. Amazing. 🏆
August 24, 2023
”Gods don't damn people, Haru. People damn themselves."
Thank you to Lonely Archer Press for an arc in exchange for a review.
At sixteen, Haru becomes the new Tain after his father’s assassination, chosen to rule and converse with the sea goddess, able to command the mighty dragon-whales.
But now Haru’s people, the Cryori (humanoids with blue skin) are up against the increasingly powerful human Alliance with the threat of being wiped out and having to worship one new false god.
So, Haru and the Bloody Chorus, a band of grieving, guilty misfits, journey to the continent to meet with Reius under the guise of peace.
”It is not only Cryori who war, Siva.
Immortals war, too.”
Whilst fairly predictable, I enjoyed the fact that young Haru is challenged throughout. His father doesn’t believe in his ability to be Tain, his friends don’t believe in his ability to kill Reius and survive the city. Then, he is faced with the truth and possibility of peace, of humanity, of goodness, of forgiveness.
As he struggles to decide on his need revenge, he also grapples with the knowledge that the humans are people worthy of peace and respect. And that maybe their god is one who is more understanding and compassionate than the ones they worship back home.
There were a few typos (missed past tense verbs), but for the most part, this was well-crafted with fast-paced writing, good action scenes, and fascinating philosophical deliberations.
I think this would be a good start for readers looking to start fantasy coming from Young Adult, or someone interested in indie authors, nautical settings, and religious backdrops.
Bookstagram
Thank you to Lonely Archer Press for an arc in exchange for a review.
At sixteen, Haru becomes the new Tain after his father’s assassination, chosen to rule and converse with the sea goddess, able to command the mighty dragon-whales.
But now Haru’s people, the Cryori (humanoids with blue skin) are up against the increasingly powerful human Alliance with the threat of being wiped out and having to worship one new false god.
So, Haru and the Bloody Chorus, a band of grieving, guilty misfits, journey to the continent to meet with Reius under the guise of peace.
”It is not only Cryori who war, Siva.
Immortals war, too.”
Whilst fairly predictable, I enjoyed the fact that young Haru is challenged throughout. His father doesn’t believe in his ability to be Tain, his friends don’t believe in his ability to kill Reius and survive the city. Then, he is faced with the truth and possibility of peace, of humanity, of goodness, of forgiveness.
As he struggles to decide on his need revenge, he also grapples with the knowledge that the humans are people worthy of peace and respect. And that maybe their god is one who is more understanding and compassionate than the ones they worship back home.
There were a few typos (missed past tense verbs), but for the most part, this was well-crafted with fast-paced writing, good action scenes, and fascinating philosophical deliberations.
I think this would be a good start for readers looking to start fantasy coming from Young Adult, or someone interested in indie authors, nautical settings, and religious backdrops.
Bookstagram
February 11, 2023
I first discovered John Marco over 20 years ago when I first read The Eyes of God. It blew me away and while I eagerly awaited the sequel I went back to the first series he published and read that one, too. Since, both of those have gone on to be two of my favorite series of all time. After a decade long absence from the publishing world, Marco has returned with his self-publishing debut! As soon as I saw him on Twitter again, I jumped at the opportunity for an ARC!
The Bloody Chorus begins with the assassination of Haru’s father and his early ascension to the throne of the island nation of Nesenor, a role he is completely unprepared for. The Cryori are a seafaring race of people who once ruled the world with an iron fist, controlling a vast empire with the help of their mighty gods and enslaving all of humanity. Their empire was eventually dissolved and their reach contained to the islands of Nesenor, however this hasn’t healed the old wounds caused by generations of brutality and enslavement and a new, fanatical ruler has united the human nations of the continent and has set his eyes on peace by any means. This setup is what drives the story and over the next several hundred pages the pace never lets up, with plotlines diverging, twisting, and then finally all coming together for an epic conclusion.
There two things that really spring to mind when I think of Marco’s work: excellent characterization and deep, layered worldbuilding. Both of those qualities are on full display in The Bloody Chorus! While Haru is undoubtedly our main character, each member of his Chorus are also fully realized, each with their own histories, motivations, and character arcs. Marco excels at writing characters that are believable, with no clear good or bad guy. You want a villain that you will both abhor and almost want to root for? You got it. You want a character that is deeply flawed, but trying to do their best? You got it. There’s a depth of character that is not often achieved here, where the villains might not be what they seem from the outside and the heroes aren’t always as innocent as they maybe should be. Round that out with some clever use of misdirection and changing loyalties and you’ve got a recipe for one hell of a ride. It kept me so invested in the plot because I couldn’t help but analyze every facet of what was happening in an attempt to know what came next, but I was always kept guessing! Even after it was over, I keep thinking back and wondering if the characters made the “right” decisions and/or what the fallout from the decisions will be in the future.
As I mentioned before, it isn’t a John Marco book without an excellent display of worldbuilding and I think The Bloody Chorus really shines when it comes to its depiction of deities. The Cryori worship the old gods, a pantheon of powerful, corporeal beings that can bestow gifts upon a select few of their followers. The Tain’s Chorus itself is made up of such people and the worship and interaction with these gods are integral to Cryori life. Much like the gods of Olympus, the Cryori gods have physical form and meddle in the affairs of men. Across the ocean, the humans have adopted a new god, Taan. A god which may or may not solely live in the deranged mind of their fanatical leader. The mythologies of these gods are interwoven into the very distinct cultures of the humans and Cryori alike and it’s interesting to see how each culture has evolved over time in response to their beliefs. The Cryori rely on the patronage of their deities, which are tied directly to things of nature; a god of beasts, of death, of war, etc. Without those connections to higher beings, the humans have had to advance in technology.
Somehow, despite the enormous shoes it has to fill and the massive weight of all my expectations, The Bloody Chorus managed to exceed them all! It’s everything I love about Marco’s style of writing and more. There honestly couldn’t be a better return for one of my favorite writers. Marco is simply a master when it comes to nailing characterization, worldbuilding, and plot, and The Bloody Chorus is the best proof of that so far. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I hope that the author gets all of the attention and praise he has always deserved. John Marco is truly one of the greats of genre.
The Bloody Chorus begins with the assassination of Haru’s father and his early ascension to the throne of the island nation of Nesenor, a role he is completely unprepared for. The Cryori are a seafaring race of people who once ruled the world with an iron fist, controlling a vast empire with the help of their mighty gods and enslaving all of humanity. Their empire was eventually dissolved and their reach contained to the islands of Nesenor, however this hasn’t healed the old wounds caused by generations of brutality and enslavement and a new, fanatical ruler has united the human nations of the continent and has set his eyes on peace by any means. This setup is what drives the story and over the next several hundred pages the pace never lets up, with plotlines diverging, twisting, and then finally all coming together for an epic conclusion.
There two things that really spring to mind when I think of Marco’s work: excellent characterization and deep, layered worldbuilding. Both of those qualities are on full display in The Bloody Chorus! While Haru is undoubtedly our main character, each member of his Chorus are also fully realized, each with their own histories, motivations, and character arcs. Marco excels at writing characters that are believable, with no clear good or bad guy. You want a villain that you will both abhor and almost want to root for? You got it. You want a character that is deeply flawed, but trying to do their best? You got it. There’s a depth of character that is not often achieved here, where the villains might not be what they seem from the outside and the heroes aren’t always as innocent as they maybe should be. Round that out with some clever use of misdirection and changing loyalties and you’ve got a recipe for one hell of a ride. It kept me so invested in the plot because I couldn’t help but analyze every facet of what was happening in an attempt to know what came next, but I was always kept guessing! Even after it was over, I keep thinking back and wondering if the characters made the “right” decisions and/or what the fallout from the decisions will be in the future.
As I mentioned before, it isn’t a John Marco book without an excellent display of worldbuilding and I think The Bloody Chorus really shines when it comes to its depiction of deities. The Cryori worship the old gods, a pantheon of powerful, corporeal beings that can bestow gifts upon a select few of their followers. The Tain’s Chorus itself is made up of such people and the worship and interaction with these gods are integral to Cryori life. Much like the gods of Olympus, the Cryori gods have physical form and meddle in the affairs of men. Across the ocean, the humans have adopted a new god, Taan. A god which may or may not solely live in the deranged mind of their fanatical leader. The mythologies of these gods are interwoven into the very distinct cultures of the humans and Cryori alike and it’s interesting to see how each culture has evolved over time in response to their beliefs. The Cryori rely on the patronage of their deities, which are tied directly to things of nature; a god of beasts, of death, of war, etc. Without those connections to higher beings, the humans have had to advance in technology.
Somehow, despite the enormous shoes it has to fill and the massive weight of all my expectations, The Bloody Chorus managed to exceed them all! It’s everything I love about Marco’s style of writing and more. There honestly couldn’t be a better return for one of my favorite writers. Marco is simply a master when it comes to nailing characterization, worldbuilding, and plot, and The Bloody Chorus is the best proof of that so far. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I hope that the author gets all of the attention and praise he has always deserved. John Marco is truly one of the greats of genre.
August 22, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
Author John Marco is a name I remember seeing in book stores when I was younger. The novels associated with John Marco were The Bronze Knight and The Tyrants and Kings series both of which I have not yet read. Given that fact that a new book has not been released by this author in 10 years, I was quite taken aback that something new has come out of the woodwork and I felt compelled to see what this was all about. Let me say this loud and clear, The Bloody Chorus is what an Epic Fantasy novel is all about! We have war, Gods, magic, betrayals, ships, pain, and even Dragon Whales! Are you interested yet?
Upon the death of his father by assassination, Haru is now granted the title of Tain and ruler of his island nation. He vows revenge on his father’s killer moving away from the teachings of the previous Tain with peace for the Cryori people. Across the ocean, The Alliance (Empire) is ruled by a madman named Reius. He decries The Cryori and their heathen Gods as a sickness needing to be eradicated from the world through war. Haru promises vengeance to his sea Goddess but in order to do so he must reassemble the 4 protectors to the once fallen king. A band of creatures with magical influences with the one task of protecting the Tain of the Cryori but they had once failed. Haru needs all the help he can get and The Bloody Chorus will be restored once again.
There is a lot to get into here so stick with me. The Bloody Chorus is a third person POV story which will job between characters in the same chapter but it is not done abruptly nor in an awkward spots. The Gods in this novel on both sides of the conflict are very much real and a part of the story just as much as Haru and his cohort. Not all of the Gods are happy with what is transpiring and not all of them can be trusted. The Tain of The Cryori is given a blessing from The Goddess to control the Dragon Whales which is a force of immense power and fear for sea travelers. This power will be a big part of this novel and it will be used in ways you will not expect. The 4 members of The Bloody Chorus are all fascinating, different, and have their own tragic past. They are all unique with different skills which will be essential for when Haru makes the journey to The Alliance and to end Reius.
Let me tell you now that this novel went in vastly different directions than I expected. The worldbuilding, character interactions, history, and influences were all so absorbing that I was forced to slow my reading down in order to take it all in. I am not the type of person to give trigger warnings in my reviews as I find them to be spoiler filed. That being said, there is a chapter in The Bloody Chorus that goes so far into Grimdark I literally had to take a ten minute break when I read it to avoid being sick; so you have been warned. There is always something going behind the scenes and Haru needs to be all hand on deck (literally) if they are going to be able to pull this off.
The Bloody Chorus will easily be a novel moved into my Top 10 reads for 2023. If nothing else it will be an experience unlike most novels you will find in the market today. I am now very excited to go back and read John Marco’s other series he has published as I am sure they will all be right up my alley.
Cheers!
Author John Marco is a name I remember seeing in book stores when I was younger. The novels associated with John Marco were The Bronze Knight and The Tyrants and Kings series both of which I have not yet read. Given that fact that a new book has not been released by this author in 10 years, I was quite taken aback that something new has come out of the woodwork and I felt compelled to see what this was all about. Let me say this loud and clear, The Bloody Chorus is what an Epic Fantasy novel is all about! We have war, Gods, magic, betrayals, ships, pain, and even Dragon Whales! Are you interested yet?
Upon the death of his father by assassination, Haru is now granted the title of Tain and ruler of his island nation. He vows revenge on his father’s killer moving away from the teachings of the previous Tain with peace for the Cryori people. Across the ocean, The Alliance (Empire) is ruled by a madman named Reius. He decries The Cryori and their heathen Gods as a sickness needing to be eradicated from the world through war. Haru promises vengeance to his sea Goddess but in order to do so he must reassemble the 4 protectors to the once fallen king. A band of creatures with magical influences with the one task of protecting the Tain of the Cryori but they had once failed. Haru needs all the help he can get and The Bloody Chorus will be restored once again.
There is a lot to get into here so stick with me. The Bloody Chorus is a third person POV story which will job between characters in the same chapter but it is not done abruptly nor in an awkward spots. The Gods in this novel on both sides of the conflict are very much real and a part of the story just as much as Haru and his cohort. Not all of the Gods are happy with what is transpiring and not all of them can be trusted. The Tain of The Cryori is given a blessing from The Goddess to control the Dragon Whales which is a force of immense power and fear for sea travelers. This power will be a big part of this novel and it will be used in ways you will not expect. The 4 members of The Bloody Chorus are all fascinating, different, and have their own tragic past. They are all unique with different skills which will be essential for when Haru makes the journey to The Alliance and to end Reius.
Let me tell you now that this novel went in vastly different directions than I expected. The worldbuilding, character interactions, history, and influences were all so absorbing that I was forced to slow my reading down in order to take it all in. I am not the type of person to give trigger warnings in my reviews as I find them to be spoiler filed. That being said, there is a chapter in The Bloody Chorus that goes so far into Grimdark I literally had to take a ten minute break when I read it to avoid being sick; so you have been warned. There is always something going behind the scenes and Haru needs to be all hand on deck (literally) if they are going to be able to pull this off.
The Bloody Chorus will easily be a novel moved into my Top 10 reads for 2023. If nothing else it will be an experience unlike most novels you will find in the market today. I am now very excited to go back and read John Marco’s other series he has published as I am sure they will all be right up my alley.
Cheers!
August 21, 2023
Rating: 4.4/5
Review: This was a lot of fun. Great story with really inventive characters. The magic is understated which lends itself towards the personal.
There were a few continuity errors. Like how is Amaga injured during the blockade when he can come up from the depths at anytime or place?
I hope this series continues with Valivan becoming more than he was just to spite Jyx.
Review: This was a lot of fun. Great story with really inventive characters. The magic is understated which lends itself towards the personal.
There were a few continuity errors. Like how is Amaga injured during the blockade when he can come up from the depths at anytime or place?
I hope this series continues with Valivan becoming more than he was just to spite Jyx.
February 8, 2023
The best thing about reading a book by John Marco is that just by reading it, you know he wrote it. The Bloody Chorus has that wonderful magic about it from beginning to end.
I was unable to finish this book without every emotion possible. I was heartbroken and cried, I felt the joys and anger. The characters, setting, and story were a joy to read.
The Bloody Chorus was worth the wait! If you've read his other books, you won't be disappointed! If you're picking this up and haven't read any others, it would be a great place to start.
I was unable to finish this book without every emotion possible. I was heartbroken and cried, I felt the joys and anger. The characters, setting, and story were a joy to read.
The Bloody Chorus was worth the wait! If you've read his other books, you won't be disappointed! If you're picking this up and haven't read any others, it would be a great place to start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2025
5 stars
Finally ! I finally have my first 5 stars full length novel of 2023.
Trust me, I was craving a new all time favorite and finally I got a new obsession.
The Bloody Chorus by John Marco was bloody phenomenal and so fun. I was so engrossed into the story. It has all of my fav elements - Beast Ships, Gods, Inner conflicts, Betrayals, Exploring different race and a found family !!
The book itself is satisfying but this has so much more potential and I really hope we get a second book.
Full RTC.
Finally ! I finally have my first 5 stars full length novel of 2023.
Trust me, I was craving a new all time favorite and finally I got a new obsession.
The Bloody Chorus by John Marco was bloody phenomenal and so fun. I was so engrossed into the story. It has all of my fav elements - Beast Ships, Gods, Inner conflicts, Betrayals, Exploring different race and a found family !!
"Men are dead. And you are offended by weeping?"
The book itself is satisfying but this has so much more potential and I really hope we get a second book.
Full RTC.
September 16, 2023
Blood chorus
4 stars ⭐️’s
Revenge Thriller with and outstanding World build.
A Fantasy chess game. ♟️With characters r so awesome and creatures so fantastic!
A young, newly appointed leader, looking for who killed his father! Is this a who dunnit ? Frayed with ingenious and indigenous cultures!
When you think you know a character he or she will surprise you! A lot of God building and don’t forget the dragon whales!!!
4 stars ⭐️’s
Revenge Thriller with and outstanding World build.
A Fantasy chess game. ♟️With characters r so awesome and creatures so fantastic!
A young, newly appointed leader, looking for who killed his father! Is this a who dunnit ? Frayed with ingenious and indigenous cultures!
When you think you know a character he or she will surprise you! A lot of God building and don’t forget the dragon whales!!!
October 13, 2023
I really struggled with the first half of this book and unfortunately my lasting impression is that I found it to be a drag. I’m glad I finished though because it picked up quite a bit in the second half and became a vastly better read as it went.
I’m not entirely sure where my disconnect occurred. A ton of people that I have similar tastes to really enjoyed this one but to be honest I almost put it down around 45%.
What Marco did really well was bring these strange and cunning gods to life. We never find out if they are gods or demons or spirits or if the semantics really matter at all. These creatures have amazing personalities and descriptions and their own politics. I loved reading about their actions and abilities the most. All of the magic in this one was pretty interesting.
The overall setting and atmosphere was well described as well. I felt like I had no problem visualizing what was happening whether it was a crowded shack or a pristine lagoon with waterfalls.
There are a medley of characters and some I cared for more than others. I think the morally gray characters did more for me than the others. I definitely liked the gods as characters but had a hard time rooting for the main character, Haru, and the Chorus itself. They are a strange and interesting race of humanoids that I maintained a disconnect from. The fun part was all the plotting and backstabbing and trying to figure out who would be good or bad by the end of the novel.
Some of the editing really hurt this one for me and I also wanted a bit more from the sentient ships. There was a lot of potential material there that didn’t get explored.
Overall the book definitely had some moments of brilliance but I struggled to get started. I’m glad I finished reading and it was a fun book to discuss with the group. I would still have absolutely no problem recommending this one to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting, because I’m pretty sure it’s a me-not-you thing.
I’m not entirely sure where my disconnect occurred. A ton of people that I have similar tastes to really enjoyed this one but to be honest I almost put it down around 45%.
What Marco did really well was bring these strange and cunning gods to life. We never find out if they are gods or demons or spirits or if the semantics really matter at all. These creatures have amazing personalities and descriptions and their own politics. I loved reading about their actions and abilities the most. All of the magic in this one was pretty interesting.
The overall setting and atmosphere was well described as well. I felt like I had no problem visualizing what was happening whether it was a crowded shack or a pristine lagoon with waterfalls.
There are a medley of characters and some I cared for more than others. I think the morally gray characters did more for me than the others. I definitely liked the gods as characters but had a hard time rooting for the main character, Haru, and the Chorus itself. They are a strange and interesting race of humanoids that I maintained a disconnect from. The fun part was all the plotting and backstabbing and trying to figure out who would be good or bad by the end of the novel.
Some of the editing really hurt this one for me and I also wanted a bit more from the sentient ships. There was a lot of potential material there that didn’t get explored.
Overall the book definitely had some moments of brilliance but I struggled to get started. I’m glad I finished reading and it was a fun book to discuss with the group. I would still have absolutely no problem recommending this one to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting, because I’m pretty sure it’s a me-not-you thing.
February 12, 2023
I was given an ebook freely by the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.
The Bloody Chorus
This review is for the prospecting reader. You’ve either heard from word of mouth about this amazing book or saw its cover and it immediately got your attention. So much so you decided to do a little research and see what the everyday Joe has to say.
READ THIS BOOK!
I love fantasy. I love reading fantasy in new and different ways. Give me a castle and fire breathing dragon any day but every other day I need something different. This is something new and different.
In The Bloody Chorus we have a once powerful island nation of Cryori a new race that at one time ruled and enslaved the human race. With ships made to resemble animals and sea monsters under their control. That was before. Now the Cryori living under a peaceful Taan(king) who freed the humans no longer war, but hear rumors of a human Alliance on the distant mainland swallowing up kingdoms and people.
The peaceful Taan is assassinated and his young inexperienced son Haru, must decide what kind of ruler he wishes to be. He receives an invitation from the Leader of the Alliance to come and talk peace. Haru who wants nothing more than vengeance for his father and with the power of a nation has choices to make.
This is where John Marco shines. He is an expert at plotting and intrigues among Nations. You start with a simple right and wrong but the more you read the more Marco makes you wonder if you picked the right side. Besides an excellent plot Marco breathes life into his characters. His villains aren’t fun to root for but you do start to wonder if they are villains. They have pure motivation and make reasonable points for what they do and just as you are about to say, ‘Hey this guy is not evil’ Marco has him do something completely horrible, and even after that there’s a part of you that defends him in your mind just in case there’s a twist ending and he does turn out to be the hero you can proclaim, ‘I was right!’
I took a month to read this book. I could have finished it in a weekend, but Marco for me really deserves to be feasted on. I allowed myself between 2-3 chapters a day. I knew the worth of this book and the story it held. I knew I would only ever have one first time reading it so I took my time and truly enjoyed every page. After I finished it, it didn’t make me want to start over at page one, it made me want to go back to the first book Marco published and reread all his books again. READ THIS BOOK.
The Bloody Chorus
This review is for the prospecting reader. You’ve either heard from word of mouth about this amazing book or saw its cover and it immediately got your attention. So much so you decided to do a little research and see what the everyday Joe has to say.
READ THIS BOOK!
I love fantasy. I love reading fantasy in new and different ways. Give me a castle and fire breathing dragon any day but every other day I need something different. This is something new and different.
In The Bloody Chorus we have a once powerful island nation of Cryori a new race that at one time ruled and enslaved the human race. With ships made to resemble animals and sea monsters under their control. That was before. Now the Cryori living under a peaceful Taan(king) who freed the humans no longer war, but hear rumors of a human Alliance on the distant mainland swallowing up kingdoms and people.
The peaceful Taan is assassinated and his young inexperienced son Haru, must decide what kind of ruler he wishes to be. He receives an invitation from the Leader of the Alliance to come and talk peace. Haru who wants nothing more than vengeance for his father and with the power of a nation has choices to make.
This is where John Marco shines. He is an expert at plotting and intrigues among Nations. You start with a simple right and wrong but the more you read the more Marco makes you wonder if you picked the right side. Besides an excellent plot Marco breathes life into his characters. His villains aren’t fun to root for but you do start to wonder if they are villains. They have pure motivation and make reasonable points for what they do and just as you are about to say, ‘Hey this guy is not evil’ Marco has him do something completely horrible, and even after that there’s a part of you that defends him in your mind just in case there’s a twist ending and he does turn out to be the hero you can proclaim, ‘I was right!’
I took a month to read this book. I could have finished it in a weekend, but Marco for me really deserves to be feasted on. I allowed myself between 2-3 chapters a day. I knew the worth of this book and the story it held. I knew I would only ever have one first time reading it so I took my time and truly enjoyed every page. After I finished it, it didn’t make me want to start over at page one, it made me want to go back to the first book Marco published and reread all his books again. READ THIS BOOK.
April 28, 2023
John Marco’s The Bloody Chorus was bloody excellent from start to finish!
The book begins with a woefully unprepared Haru’s ascension to the throne of Nessenor after the murder of his father, the king, only a few days earlier using treacherous magic.
Immediately Haru is invited by Reius, the mad prophet of the Alliance, for meeting and talks. Once upon a time, Nessenor was the dominant power and the continent cowered in fury, but today the situation is different. The Alliance, led by Reius, wants to make Nessenor a part of the alliance, non violently if possible.
This sets off a chain of fantastic and fantastical events which keep the reader begging for ‘one chapter more’.
The chosen natives of Nessenor, called Cryori, are blessed by gods who live among them, grant them powers and generally meddle in mortal affairs despite being near immortal and awesome themselves. They are powerful yet petty, awesome yet inscrutable, possessing both magic and egos and even insecurities in equal measure.
The characters really shine in The Bloody Chorus! All of them feel real and authentic and relatable in their hopes, dreams, regrets, insecurities, powerlessness and resilience.
The worldbuilding is on another level. The gods of Nessenor and the old gods of the continent (who are only mentioned in passing) and their mythology is superb!
The plot progresses with purpose and there are no untoward diversions or tangents. There are no infodumps in the book despite such brilliant world building. Like an arrow released from a bow, the story moves unerringly towards a shattering conclusion.
The action sequences and military sequences are also gripping enough.
Frankly, there is enough meat in this one story to publish an entire trilogy, and yet it never feels overwhelming or confusing - thats how well this book is crafted.
The only reason its not a 5* for me is there are 1-2 threads left unresolved - i’m hoping its for sequels later, but as sequels have not been announced yet, i’m assuming the questions will remain unanswered as of now.
All in all, The Bloody Chorus has it all - living, breathing characters, a pantheon of awesome gods, some terrific twists in a great plot and just a generally entertaining story!
The book begins with a woefully unprepared Haru’s ascension to the throne of Nessenor after the murder of his father, the king, only a few days earlier using treacherous magic.
Immediately Haru is invited by Reius, the mad prophet of the Alliance, for meeting and talks. Once upon a time, Nessenor was the dominant power and the continent cowered in fury, but today the situation is different. The Alliance, led by Reius, wants to make Nessenor a part of the alliance, non violently if possible.
This sets off a chain of fantastic and fantastical events which keep the reader begging for ‘one chapter more’.
The chosen natives of Nessenor, called Cryori, are blessed by gods who live among them, grant them powers and generally meddle in mortal affairs despite being near immortal and awesome themselves. They are powerful yet petty, awesome yet inscrutable, possessing both magic and egos and even insecurities in equal measure.
The characters really shine in The Bloody Chorus! All of them feel real and authentic and relatable in their hopes, dreams, regrets, insecurities, powerlessness and resilience.
The worldbuilding is on another level. The gods of Nessenor and the old gods of the continent (who are only mentioned in passing) and their mythology is superb!
The plot progresses with purpose and there are no untoward diversions or tangents. There are no infodumps in the book despite such brilliant world building. Like an arrow released from a bow, the story moves unerringly towards a shattering conclusion.
The action sequences and military sequences are also gripping enough.
Frankly, there is enough meat in this one story to publish an entire trilogy, and yet it never feels overwhelming or confusing - thats how well this book is crafted.
The only reason its not a 5* for me is there are 1-2 threads left unresolved - i’m hoping its for sequels later, but as sequels have not been announced yet, i’m assuming the questions will remain unanswered as of now.
All in all, The Bloody Chorus has it all - living, breathing characters, a pantheon of awesome gods, some terrific twists in a great plot and just a generally entertaining story!
October 20, 2023
4.5 Stars
The Bloody Chorus by John Marco was our buddy read group selection for the month of September 2023. We somehow got onto the stories of ships at sea the last two months with this one following Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla. This one seemed like it was closer to our group's usual length of reads.
I had a lot of enjoyment reading this book. I'll touch on my usual three standard topics below in a moment. I just wanted to point out that I found this read very unique. There is a lot going on in this book so I feel readers will need to focus and keep up with the characters and the story or they may get lost. I myself found the first few chapters confusing only in one part of our Protagonists' race or visual characteristics which I reached out to the group looking for clarification. After that, it was smooth sailing for me the rest of the read.
The felt the pacing was done well. There are some subtle eb and flow moments but nothing really jarring. There is enough action or suspense throughout to keep things interesting even when we are simply setting up the world and it's characters. I didn't find any troubles with names or characters or other things within the world. No issues with vocabulary used either.
The world building was right up my alley. As mentioned earlier there is a lot going on in this story. I felt the author did a great job both in describing this world as well as giving us a feel for the size or scope of things throughout. I do love a good read with a lot of races or cultures to explore and this one did it well for me.
The character development was also nicely done. I do honestly feel that some of our supporting characters had a slightly better character development than our main protagonist. It just seemed our main was fairly steady throughout the story and didn't seem to make a lot of developments until closer to the end of the read. I think our antagonist was done really well though. I felt almost an immediate connection with trying to understand our antagonist in this read which is always rare yet enjoyable!
All in all this was a really good read for me. I will certainly be looking to continue reading some of John's works in the future.
The Bloody Chorus by John Marco was our buddy read group selection for the month of September 2023. We somehow got onto the stories of ships at sea the last two months with this one following Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla. This one seemed like it was closer to our group's usual length of reads.
I had a lot of enjoyment reading this book. I'll touch on my usual three standard topics below in a moment. I just wanted to point out that I found this read very unique. There is a lot going on in this book so I feel readers will need to focus and keep up with the characters and the story or they may get lost. I myself found the first few chapters confusing only in one part of our Protagonists' race or visual characteristics which I reached out to the group looking for clarification. After that, it was smooth sailing for me the rest of the read.
The felt the pacing was done well. There are some subtle eb and flow moments but nothing really jarring. There is enough action or suspense throughout to keep things interesting even when we are simply setting up the world and it's characters. I didn't find any troubles with names or characters or other things within the world. No issues with vocabulary used either.
The world building was right up my alley. As mentioned earlier there is a lot going on in this story. I felt the author did a great job both in describing this world as well as giving us a feel for the size or scope of things throughout. I do love a good read with a lot of races or cultures to explore and this one did it well for me.
The character development was also nicely done. I do honestly feel that some of our supporting characters had a slightly better character development than our main protagonist. It just seemed our main was fairly steady throughout the story and didn't seem to make a lot of developments until closer to the end of the read. I think our antagonist was done really well though. I felt almost an immediate connection with trying to understand our antagonist in this read which is always rare yet enjoyable!
All in all this was a really good read for me. I will certainly be looking to continue reading some of John's works in the future.
July 29, 2023
I've sort of been in a fantasy slump this year. What I mean by this is, I haven't had many 5 star fantasy reads this year. Until now. I'm an audiobook reader at heart, so reading physically takes me longer. So while it took me longer to read this book, it did not have anything to do with the quality.
This is the first John Marco book I have read and will not be my last. I was drawn in by all the characters. I got emotional at the appropriate moments. I felt like these characters were my family and their plight was mine.
I'm not going to recite the plot as you can read the synopsis, but this is by far my favorite book of the year so far. There wasn't a single character in the main cast I didn't like, and there wasn't a moment that I was bored. There is going to follow up, and I CAN'T WAIT! I immediately purchased a physical copy!
This is the first John Marco book I have read and will not be my last. I was drawn in by all the characters. I got emotional at the appropriate moments. I felt like these characters were my family and their plight was mine.
I'm not going to recite the plot as you can read the synopsis, but this is by far my favorite book of the year so far. There wasn't a single character in the main cast I didn't like, and there wasn't a moment that I was bored. There is going to follow up, and I CAN'T WAIT! I immediately purchased a physical copy!
March 28, 2023
It felt good to read some John Marco again. I read his 2 trilogies 15 years ago and had a great time. I remember him mentioning the idea for this in his blog years ago, and it is so cool to finally have this story. This book felt different from anything I have read from him before, but that's not a bad thing at all. With different races, monsters, and gods, this was a fun world to explore, and built up to some epic scenes. Along with that there were characters I was rooting for, bad guys I hoped got what was coming to them. This was a "just one more chapter" book every time I picked it up. The story was well contained in this volume, but I'm still excited to see where he goes with the world in the future.
March 31, 2023
If you haven't read Marco make it a must!
August 18, 2023
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I would say this is an instant unputdownable! The story captures your attention from the very beginning, The story is long, well developed, crafty narrated, so you'll need a second read if you rushed the first one, because the devil is in the tiny details and not only the descriptions, but the dialogue itself hides hidden gems that will definitely spark the reader's interest! The magic system is unique, the characters are extraordinary - both in appearance and so very different form one another, while each one carries a unique depth that is worth exploring while reading - both for main characters and villains! The story simply makes you love and understand both! I recommend this book to everyone and I recommend it for more than just one read! It's so worth it!
I would say this is an instant unputdownable! The story captures your attention from the very beginning, The story is long, well developed, crafty narrated, so you'll need a second read if you rushed the first one, because the devil is in the tiny details and not only the descriptions, but the dialogue itself hides hidden gems that will definitely spark the reader's interest! The magic system is unique, the characters are extraordinary - both in appearance and so very different form one another, while each one carries a unique depth that is worth exploring while reading - both for main characters and villains! The story simply makes you love and understand both! I recommend this book to everyone and I recommend it for more than just one read! It's so worth it!
March 30, 2023
Absolutely wonderful from the beginning to the very end. Engaged my interest right away and kept it there. I loved it. I hope there'll be more :-)
April 4, 2023
It felt like the story took a long time to take hold, but the last 20% wrapped up in a quick paced and satisfying way, with some loose ends. Interesting world and mythology
November 3, 2023
Tremendous epic fantasy up there as one of the best books I have read this year. FABULOUS.
August 31, 2023
I was struggling with this and then finally at the halfway mark I just stopped. There's no point to this book and it was getting too uncomfortable with the talk of potential torture and then the beginnings of it, I decided I was done.
Whatever the rules are for this universe, they feel kinda arbitrary and frankly uninteresting. A reviewer said things speeded up a quarter of the way in but I did not find that to be the case.
Whatever the rules are for this universe, they feel kinda arbitrary and frankly uninteresting. A reviewer said things speeded up a quarter of the way in but I did not find that to be the case.
August 16, 2023
A sweeping epic that masterfully combines intricate world-building with compelling characters and high-stakes conflict. Set against the backdrop of two empires on the brink of collision, the story follows Haru, thrust into leadership after his father's assassination. Haru, now Tain, faces the monumental task of unifying his people, the Cryori, against a formidable alliance led by the enigmatic and relentless Reius. Marco's storytelling prowess shines as he weaves a tale of power, revenge, and the struggle to balance past glories with the demands of the present.
The depth of character development and the complexity of the conflicts elevate The Bloody Chorus to a realm of exceptional fantasy. Haru's journey from reluctant ruler to determined leader is captivating, and the camaraderie and challenges faced by the Bloody Chorus create a bond that resonates with readers. Marco's world-building is richly detailed, immersing readers in a vibrant realm where cultures clash and destinies collide.
The depth of character development and the complexity of the conflicts elevate The Bloody Chorus to a realm of exceptional fantasy. Haru's journey from reluctant ruler to determined leader is captivating, and the camaraderie and challenges faced by the Bloody Chorus create a bond that resonates with readers. Marco's world-building is richly detailed, immersing readers in a vibrant realm where cultures clash and destinies collide.
didn-t-finish
March 12, 2023A murdered ruler. Magic on the march. Can a band of avenging misfits save their homeland from a ruinous war?
Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs.
Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a band of magical misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.
Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs.
Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a band of magical misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.
September 28, 2023
Thanks Netgalley and the Publishers for the review copy.
The story follows Haru, thrust into leadership after his father's assassination. Haru, now Tain, faces the monumental task of unifying his people, the Cryori, against a formidable alliance led by the enigmatic and relentless Reius. Marco's storytelling prowess shines as he weaves a tale of power, revenge, and the struggle to balance past glories with the demands of the present.
The magic system is unique, the characters are extraordinary - both in appearance and so very different form one another, while each one carries a unique depth that is worth exploring while reading - both for main characters and villains! The story simply makes you love and understand both! I recommend this book to everyone and I recommend it for more than just one read! It's so worth it!
The story follows Haru, thrust into leadership after his father's assassination. Haru, now Tain, faces the monumental task of unifying his people, the Cryori, against a formidable alliance led by the enigmatic and relentless Reius. Marco's storytelling prowess shines as he weaves a tale of power, revenge, and the struggle to balance past glories with the demands of the present.
The magic system is unique, the characters are extraordinary - both in appearance and so very different form one another, while each one carries a unique depth that is worth exploring while reading - both for main characters and villains! The story simply makes you love and understand both! I recommend this book to everyone and I recommend it for more than just one read! It's so worth it!
August 16, 2023
This book grabbed me from the very first page and didn't let go. Imagine a world where two empires clash, and in the middle of it all is Haru, forced into a leadership role after his father's murder. Haru's journey from uncertainty to determination had me rooting for him every step of the way.
But what really hooked me was the formation of the Bloody Chorus – a group of avenging misfits with their own secrets and pasts. Their camaraderie and the challenges they face together make the story truly come alive. And the enigmatic Reius adds a layer of intrigue that kept me turning pages late into the night.
But what really hooked me was the formation of the Bloody Chorus – a group of avenging misfits with their own secrets and pasts. Their camaraderie and the challenges they face together make the story truly come alive. And the enigmatic Reius adds a layer of intrigue that kept me turning pages late into the night.
October 6, 2023
Received from Lonely Archer Press and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own.
This a good read if at times a bit slow, centres around Haru and his trials and trouble of being the next clan leader, who can talk to a goddess.
It was a very descriptive book that I thought was maybe a bit YA, so maybe not so much for me.
It was a good read, maybe if more in series we would see some different characters.
This a good read if at times a bit slow, centres around Haru and his trials and trouble of being the next clan leader, who can talk to a goddess.
It was a very descriptive book that I thought was maybe a bit YA, so maybe not so much for me.
It was a good read, maybe if more in series we would see some different characters.
February 28, 2024
Had all the right ingredients but was underdeveloped
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